Now, why would we go to the stars?

No, it is a serious question. Why would most people go to the stars, to new worlds?

To me, one of the more interesting techologies in recent years is the ability to use DNA to track the human family tree. In recent years, researchers using DNA analysis have tracked human migration from our ancestral birthplace in Africa to spread across the planet.

Humanity has reached to see what was on the other side (of the hill or of the ocean) for several hundred thousand years. Why did they do it? I suspect there were several reasons, such as droughts, the available of food, the search for new territory as populations increased, etc. Much later, people explored for economic reasons such as new markets and new resources. In American history, some people were content to stay in Europe while others suffered the risks and expense of traveling to the New World. Once here, some were content to stay on the East Coast while others pushed westward to pursue new opportunities.

It'll likely be a long time before we have the technology to travel to another star. For over 30 years, we have not even had to ability to go beyond Low Earth Orbit. I suspect the first crewed vehicles to go to another star will go for exploration and scientific purposes. They'll probably go to a star where there are known planets, and even then probably solar systems that have the potential for an Earth-like planet.

If that happens, there may be a desire on the part of people to see what's on the other side and perhaps to develop a new life for themselves that wouldn't be possible if they stayed here in our local solar system. That push for colonization might take generations from the first exploratory missions. However, given the extreme distances, those first exploratory missions might well be one-way trips and colonization by default. Either way, I severely doubt any of us will be around to see it happen.